~Hakurei Shrine~ > Patchouli's Scarlet Library

The Miracles of Gensokyo

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WRATHIE_Beatrice: Note: Sequence of Chronology - The Shrine of Gensokyo: Prologue - The Shrine of Gensokyo - The Miracles of Gensokyo -- This is for you, Kiro. Thanks for the review and feedback man! -- [?Why? hi there, Welcome?] Smiling, I held out a hand to the little girl who was here for the first time. [Welcome, to the Hakurei Shrine.] -- The Miracles of Gensokyo -- Sitting down with the parents of the little girl, I sat down and listened to their woes. They were worried, worried about how she would be able to survive in the new environment. [You see, Miss Reimu? she?  plays with Fairies all day.] [and they are youkai, Miss Reimu. I know that some youkai are like us? but some youkai are still dangerous?] The mother looked at me in worry as she hugged her little girl. I understood her concern, the people of the human village had long viewed youkai as dangerous and it was unreasonable for me to expect them to believe in them in such a short time. [Little girl? do you play with Fairies?] Fairies are the weaker youkai, sometimes friendly and sometimes dangerous but definitely not smart at the beginning. They have voices, soft voices that many cannot distinguish from the squeaks and squeals they normally emit but they do have voices and intelligence and is self aware, unlike many other youkai like the best youkai that is so commonly blamed for attacks. Fairy youkai are the easiest to approach and the hardest to understand, due to their shared nature. If this little girl can play with her? she might be spiritually talented since birth as the fairies feel comfortable with her. [Yes, I do Miss Shrine Maiden?] She nervously told me and I ran a hand through her fingers, softly telling her that it is okay, I am not mad at her. [Well? do they look like this?] Gesturing, I heard the tell-tale of the two darlings that I kept at the Shrine. The twinkling of the bells they wore on their heads signaling their approach. [Ran, Chen.,. be nice okay?] Smiling as the two fairies looked at the little girl, then at one another before flying over and sitting on her shoulders. [~~~~] Listening to what they were saying, I was about to translate it for the little girl and her parent?s benefit when she spoke herself. [I?ll play house with them! They know how to play house, don?t they! I made clothes that might fit them too! Can I, Miss Shrine Maiden, can I?] I nodded to her and then turned to her stunned parents, who were looking at her child in shock and at the same time a little bit of fear as she conversed with Ran and Chen. [She is spiritually gifted, a child that can speak with Youkai, not unusual as Children do have clearer thoughts then we adults do. But to display such traits at such an early stage, that is certainly very rare and very valuable.] I told them more about youkai and her special ability, for her to be able to talk to youkai at such a young age, it is surely an advantage to her as she would be able to seek assistance from youkai if necessary and more likely than not, she would never be targeted by youkai again. [Youkai knows one of their own from the others? naturally there will be risks but your child will be safe from a majority of youkai. If you are still worried, take these.] Passing them a few amulets and charms, I told them to place them in the walls of her room and around the house if necessary. [This amulets will shine brightly and will weaken the powers of stronger youkai if they sense hostility.] [T-Thank you, Miss Shrine Maiden! Thank you for your help!] The pair thanked me as I told them not to worry, they must be relieved now that they know their child is safe and even special not as they feared, that she was a danger, a threat to their lives by merely existing. [? Be careful on your way down!] Waving to the three of them after the little girl was coaxed to play with Ran and Chen another day, I patted both their heads for a job well done. [Thank you, you really came through for me. Did you have fun?] Smiling tenderly at the two of them, I went back to what I was doing before I was interrupted by the couple. The two dears were called Ran and Chen in memory of my dearest friend?s memories, they are fairies that have bonded with me and is part of my extended family. Learning from experience and trail and error, the two of them have more or less adapted to their new environment, even donning different clothes like us, made specially by Alice, who are attached to the two dears. Where I am is the Hakurei Shrine, once the only Shrine in Gensokyo but now the more ancient and grander shrine of Gensokyo, the other one being the Moriya Shrine, in which the Patron Goddess is Yasaka Kanako, the Goddess of the Earth. [? Ah, Suika!] Hearing the sounds of her chains rattling in the air, I turned towards the direction of the Torii gates and waved to the figure flying towards the Shrine. [Suika! Okaeri!] [Reimu! Taidama!!] Crashing straight into my arms, I absorbed as much of the impact I could before I fell to the ground, laughing and giggling with Suika, who was all grins as she got off me. [Welcome home, Suika?] [I?m back home, Reimu!] This is Ibuki Suika, the final part of my extended family and a Shrine Maiden in training living with me at the Shrine itself. She is youkai, an Oni in fact with two horns at the side of her head but she is absolutely a dear, with her blondish orangey hair and childlike frame and features, rarely anyone would not squeal and say she was not adorable. She was left out of a large portion of my life due to an incident, an incident that was as painful and fuzzy to me than everyone else that was involved. Returning back to my homeland, Gensokyo half a year ago, I tried to make up for the lost time even when I know it wouldn?t do much. The scars that are left from the dark times will never heal but the least I can do is to ease their pain? to make up for the times lost. -- [Lunch is almost ready Suika.] [Yay! Is Marisa joining us today?] [Who knows? But I?ll set a setting for her, just in case.] I was all smiles as the both of us entered the Shrine to the hall that we would have our meals. [Okay!! I visited all the homes today, Reimu! They were all fine, no youkai attacks today again!] Suika smiled happily and I nodded in agreement with her, the youkai were leaving the village alone after the incident and I would not have it any other way. Youkai are human too even if many of them call them spirits. Youkai or spirits are supernatural beings, made of magical powers and powered by one?s faith and belief of them although at times they are strong enough to simply feed on fear and beliefs of people directly. Without humans there might not be spirits or youkai as they take shape from the fear and believes of people, giving them shape and form and powers. With some exceptions like fairies, pixies and elemental spirits, all youkai is originated from humans directly. Spirits of the forest gain form through people?s worship and from magical energies coursing through the woods but their shapes and forms is different from how one views them. Their forms are ethereal, varying from person to person but a general consensus will be built throughout the generations of stories that is passed down. Humans give birth to youkai and they fear and revere them at the same time, odd really but people?s thoughts and beliefs do change throughout the years. My patron spirit is the Great Hakurei Spirit, the spirit that surely exists that watches over the Shrine and the People of Gensokyo, my belief in her will never waver or change even if I have never seen her? but that changes nothing, I still hold her in the highest regard and I serve her, tending her quarters and borrowing her strength to serve the people. I serve the people and the spirits, to me they are equal in terms of importance? I can?t choose which is better, which is the side that I will side with. I will never do that, both of them are just as important to me? -- [Suika, will you be a dear and set the tab-] Walking with her into the dining room, I shook my head as Ran and Chen flew up to us, having set the table before hand and they flew in front of us, wanting praise as they twittered with one another. [Thank you, dears~] Stroking their head while Suika pulled their cheeks, I told Suika to have a bath while I serve lunch. We take turns to go down to the village every day, to spend time helping the villagers with anything related to Faith. We would offer prayers to the residential gods and spirits in their homes, pray for rain and for good health as well as youkai extermination, or in my case, youkai banishment from the premises. [I wish you were here?] Settling down at the table, I looked out the window and I immediately thought of my dear friend and fellow protector of Gensokyo. Gensokyo is a world that is hidden from the other world, the world that is current at the 21st century. In Gensokyo, traditions stay alive, faith in gods and spirits are rampant and people must form bonds to survive. It is really eat or be eaten in Gensokyo, the people fear youkai, fear the threat of floods, famine, drought and diseases. Even I am not spared, I fear for my life sometimes when I confront dangerous youkai but sometimes, the fear does not kick in till afterwards. I? I do not know why, when I step in, to resolve a dangerous situation, my body seem to be unable to register the feeling of fear even when my foes are those that can easily kill me. ? Someone once told me that only one who knows true fear display fearlessness in the face of danger. [?] Gensokyo is wonderful and beautiful, filled with dangers and wonders like no place I have ever seen before. I love this land and I would do anything to save it and with me, was perhaps my youkai counterpart, Yakumo Yukari, the gap youkai and the Guardian of Gensokyo. Yakumo Yukari was a true friend, a person that I knew from young that was although sometimes annoying, mischievous and generally a person I would not want to deal with. But she has been the one person silently watching over Gensokyo, keeping an eye on everything and everything from behind the scenes. She is the one refraining from the public?s eyes, preferring to hide her deeds then to bask in the all the glory. She was my friend and the one who sacrificed herself for Gensokyo. She made the ultimate sacrifice, doing what she believed was right for Gensokyo? only for it to be wrong? Her sanity corroded, her judgment flawed? she made a terrible mistake but that does not mean she should be despised, her name to be tarnished her past deeds forgotten. Till the end, she believed what she was doing was right?. I know, I know what she did was wrong? she was planning mass murder, a genocide of Gensokyo if she pulled it off? but yet, I believed her love for Gensokyo was true. If it was not, why would she struggle so defiantly against me when everything and everyone was against her. When miracles were performed on my side and I rallied back despite everything she threw at me. True, she ignored all the warning signs, that the life of Gensokyo was sucked away and was in danger of her plans? but all of it, was it not due to the crushing responsibilities on her shoulders? She wanted Gensokyo to be remade in her desire? She wanted to be free of the responsibilities, the pressure on her that finally drove her over the wall. When one passes the border of Madness and Sanity, there is no coming back? If she was free of such burdens would she have not made such mistakes? I do not know, I cannot possibly know? What I do know is that she loved Gensokyo the most, more than anyone else. I could only what would happen if she had come to her senses earlier? would she not need to die in my hands? I feel so helpless when night falls and I wake up alone in the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat, my dreams always seem to be the one where I saw Yukari?s last smile as she faded away to oblivion and my hands slick with red blood, her blood. Every night I have the comforting sounds of Suika snoring softly and the small breaths Ran and Chen emit as they slept beside me, they were my emotional support, telling me to live on, for their sake, for Gensokyo?s sake and for Yukari?s sake. For each day that I live and sleep in Gensokyo I call that a small victory, something that I had earned and fought for and I had nearly paid the full price for it. I had crossed over to the other side after my struggles, meeting the yama and was ready to be judged till I was sent back to my world. -- [The Hourai Elixer in the Princess?s blood might have given you temporary immortality? ?. It is a mystery even to me, Hakurei. I have never seen a case like you before, perhaps with another death we will find out?] [Erm, no thank you, Miss Yagokoro.] [Naturally I was pulling your leg. Still, I would expect you to age slower than most people and?] Leaning close to me, Miss Yagokoro confessed that she suspected that I might take on characteristics of a half-youkai. [It must be due to your long exposure with powerful Magic, the mysterious way your wounds healed and the blood transfusion from many powerful, magical beings. Even if you were untainted before returning to Gensokyo, you certainly are now.] [I-I know?] Lowering my head, I told Miss Yagokoro what my duties were, maintaining the border requires powerful magical charms that needed to be reinforced with chants and barriers daily. By looking at the manual Yukari gave me and with another gift from Yukari, this time the revered manual that was left by my ancestors, I was learning how to manipulate gaps and borders just like her. [? They will manifest soon, Hakurei. You are human but you will have youkai characteristics. Fitting, don?t you think?] She smirked before handing me my prescription as I looked at her in silence. Were all of these the truth? -- [Yo, Reimu da ze!] [Ah? Marisa!] -- Author's Note: Another update when I have the time and again, R&R would be appreciated

WRATHIE_Beatrice: Looking up, I saw the witch youkai of Gensokyo as well as the other guardian of this land, Kirisame Marisa. She looks after Gensokyo in my absence and she has done a great job in the years that I were not around, keeping the peace and looking after the people. She is a brave and kind soul, filled with confidence and arrogance that puts many off but I like her that way, it is not Marisa if she is not cocky and to the point. I like her being that way, unable to conceal what she truly means and subsequently knowing what I did wrong from her reactions. [You?re thinking of old gaps, are you?][ [?] I looked away, Marisa can read me like a book and I groaned a little shaking my head and telling her. [If you knew, why remind me?] [Uh uh, you?re the one who started it, Reimu.] Grinning, Marisa zoomed down and jumped off her broom, landing beside me lightly before sitting down and clapping both hands on my cheeks. [Listen Reimu, Yukari she is-] [Gone, I know, Marisa? I know?] Marisa relented and nodded her head. [Sorry? I just couldn?t?] Marisa bit her lip at her insensitiveness but I shook my head, Marisa is always Marisa and I forgave her easily. [I know, I should be? grieving? I mean I should but?] I shook my head and looked down at my feet, till now I can?t put the grief away and move on. She always seems to be there and everywhere where I least expected her to be, just like always. [You?re too hard on yourself, Reimu?] Sitting beside me, Marisa patiently waited as I gathered my wits back together again and I was reminded of that particular dream?. -- There are times I would wake up, dead in the late of night, sweating profusely from a recurring nightmare. In my nightmare I would always be alone, sitting in an endless white hall that reminded me of my shrine. Slowly walking towards the doors that separated me from the rest of the world but with every step, I swore that I saw a shadow appear behind me, calling my name. [Reimu?] The voice made me feel deathly cold by just hearing it and with every step the presence felt closer and closer till I could hear her breath into my neck. But try as I might, I can never have a glimpse of the person stalking me. Every time, without fail I would collapse to my knees within walking distance to the door that signified liberation, at least that is what I truly felt, that the door would be my salvation, leading me to a place where I would feel safe and secure, away from the presence haunting me still. But there I lay, powerless, helpless and frightened as I looked all around for the thing that was plaguing me so furtively when? [Reimu?] I heard her voice, Yukari?s voice call out to me and I turned towards the direction of her voice and I would always see her, dressed in the same frilly, purple dress that I first saw her in and she would be walking towards me, taking her own sweet time in the world as I tried to sit up to meet her, collapsing due to weakness a few times before she reached me. [Reimu?] Wearing her silken gloves, Yukari lifted my chin up for me to gaze at her in all her beauty but I could not crack a smile to save my life as I was overwhelmed with the things I wanted to tell her, the things I wanted to apologize to her for as she stared at me, not blinking as she leaned closer and closer to me. It was like I was in her spell, in her power even as the door to salvation lies just in front of me, behind her? My inner senses telling me to pull Yukari with me to the door but I still stayed rooted on the spot as she smiled and whispered. [Reimu.] [Y-yes? Yukari?] I asked her, happy that she was willing to speak to me and perhaps to forgive me. [You killed me? ] She told me coldly as the edges of her smile turned down and blood started trickling down from her eyes, drop by drop they splashed on my clothes but I could not pull away from her no matter how hard my inner self told me to. I was definitely in her spell as her voice raised higher and higher, repeating her accusation. You killed me? you killed me? Reimu?. Like an arrow that she shot straight at my heart, I felt pain and anguish but it was the truth. I had somehow or another, killed her? no one could have possibly touched Yukari when she disappeared? the only person who could do that, who have the power to do that and the reason to that? was me. Everything pointed to me, I had to be the one who killed her? How, I did not know? but it must have been me? [Y-Yukari?] My voice trembled and as I tried to raise a hand; seeking hers when the door behind her, the door that I thought would lead to salvation and freedom was forced open to reveal? [!!] I recoiled immediately and I started crawling away from Yukari and the door. It was a lie, it was a fa?ade? everything was? everything? this is not happening? Instead of the light that I had been seeking, what I saw is that behind the door was a mass of swirling chaos. I could see blood, destruction, corruption and sins of people as well as youkai swirling in the purple mass. Eyes, the same disturbing eyes that I faced in my battle with Yukari surfaced in the chaos again and they turned their unblinking gaze towards me, the same cold and accusing gaze that Yukari was still shooting at me. You? Killed? ME, Reimu Her voice echoed throughout the room and I felt my heart stop for a brief moment as the same ribbons of death that I had managed to drive away started appearing all around me like cracks in a shattered glass, all converging towards the door. [Y-Yukari, no!!] I called out bravely to her as I stood up, trying to gain courage to face the impossible yet again. Bravery in the face of impossibility, I wanted to show that to Yukari, perhaps here? here I can convince her. [It is futile, Reimu?] She laughed softly as the swirling mass slowly emerged from the open door, threatening to overwhelm everything, including Yukari in it?s path. [Yukari!! NOOO!] I cried out to her in warning but she paid it no heed even when the swirling mass started to consume Yukari even as she laughed softly at me. [Reimu, what you are reaching for is impossible? there will be no peace? no understanding? you are just living on borrowed time, Reimu? the path that you seek?] Slowly, agonizingly, Yukari?s form was swallowed by the swirling darkness but she did not flinch or cry out in pain, she seemed to even herald the approaching darkness as the last of her features was swallowed by the mass of chaos. I heard her last words clearly and I felt the strength slowly draining from me? [?] As the cloud of darkness slowly approached, I felt despair but then? just then, just like the many times that have happened before. I stopped shivering and I felt anger surged through me. [? No? Not this time.] I clenched my teeth and I ran towards, reaching inside my sleeves for my spellcards that had never failed me before. [I will not lose to despair, I will not lose to the darkness? I will not lose hope? I believe in what I am doing, you cannot dissuade me? Not you? not anyone? I promised everyone I would not do so? I do not know, what I am doing is right? but if I do not try? I will never discover it?] It might be just me but I swore I saw the advance of the darkness slowed down from my approach, fast and furious as I threw amulets repeatedly to stem the tide. The amulets shone a bright blue as they formed a barrier preventing the darkness from advancing. [I will banish the darkness, I will find the light? I will? I WILL! Fantasy Seal!!] Throw the spellcard into the air, I struck it once with my gohei while simultaneously throw several more in front of me. [SPREAD!] The colorful orbs broke free from the amulets and struck repeatedly at the darkness, each hit showing me a glimpse of the light behind it, reigniting my hope. [BEGONE!!] With one final hit, I shattered the darkness with my gohei? how I accomplished this I could not recall plainly.. but I did it, somehow or another I managed to destroy the darkness, barring my way to the light. [I? I did it?] Looking at my hands, I managed a smile as I walked towards the light, thankful that I will finally reach the end of my long journey when?. [will lead you to destruction Reimu, the light that you seek? you shall never reach it?] I heard Yukari?s voice again and as I looked around, my surroundings suddenly darkened and the light started to fade. [N-No!] I gave out a cry of anguish as I ran forward, desperately running after the retreating light. [You are favored by the light? but you destiny shall always lie with the darkness? no matter how you try to resist it, how you try to fend it away? you will never reach it, Reimu. Never? ever?] Drowning in the darkness, I would suddenly woke up from the dread and despair that was overwhelming me. -- I told Marisa about the dream that I had, something that I had kept secret for quite some time and she seemed a little surprised, not to mention annoyed. But before she could add anything, I told her that dreams were visions from the gods and spirits and previously, the vision I had of the river of death came true after all. [Ugh? well?] Marisa had scarcely little to stay after my explanation and she sighed. [W-what will come, will come? we?ll have to deal with it when it comes, Reimu da ze~] Winking at me, she regained her optimistic attitude and reminded me of the impending tasks that I have to prepare for the upcoming festival. [That?s right da ze~ The festival Reimu! We?ve been looking for your ceremonial dance for ages!] [? T-thank you, Marisa.] I smiled and thanked Marisa who shook her head and laughed. [There you go again~  We are friends da ze~] [? Yes, very good friends!] [Mm!! Now let?s have lunch, I?m all famished?] -- [?Will you pass me the ink, Akyu?] [Here you go, Keine.] Smiling, I accepted the ink from Akyu and started writing down the events that had happened today just like always. Only today I have a guest, Hieda no Akyu, the head of the Hieda family and the child of miare. [Is it not tedious, Akyu?] I asked the petite girl, who although have aged and changed tremendously in the past 10 over years retained her weak body and health. [No, if this task bothers me? what would I do as the compiler of the Gensokyo Chronicles?] Akyu laughed and shook her head, writing on her own personal scroll, writing down the lives of the people in gensokyo in all of it?s color and details. She has been working day after day since Reimu returned. The events that had to be recorded were numerous, Reimu had travelled across Gensokyo, performing miracles after miracles. It was impossible to record every single detail but record Akyu did? from talking to the people who were on site to asking for help from even the god of death herself, Akyu had managed to compile enough information to write an unbiased account of the incident. Now, in the process of writing the account, she has asked for my help and being her closest confident and friend, I agreed without hesitation. I am a scholar, a historian writing down the events of everyday life like her and I wish to be of help and that is why, despite the mounting pile of schoolwork waiting for me to mark, I returned home early to help with her compilation. [I am sorry, Keine? to ask you to help when you are so busy.] [No, I want to help?] Yes, I wanted to record this along with Akyu, the changes that Reimu had brought with her when she returned were? for a lack of better word, miraculous? nothing can be used to describe it. It was as if a god had passed a law on it?s people? the change that she brought could never have been imagined by me to be possible. Going against the beliefs and prejudice formed over several generations and she still succeeded where others had failed? [Yes, I want to help.] Looking up to smile at Akyu, we were interrupted by a sudden voice. [Mokou!!! Mokou!! Are you home, Mokou!!] A womanly voice but filled with just a hint of childishness floated into my small house and a few seconds later, someone burst into the room. [Moko-] [Ah.] The three of just froze as we looked at the newcomer, Houraisen Kaguya, the immortal princess of Eientei. She had her long black hair tied in twin-tails at the sides and was wearing what Alice called a sweater and she froze upon immediately seeing the both of us. [M-Miss Keine! Akyu!!] Akyu looked at me then at her before giggling a little. Being the owner of the small abode I stood up and greeted her. [Good Afternoon Prin-] Seeing the glare from Kaguya, I quickly corrected myself. She did not like being called Princess, more likely she feel she would be fawned upon. [Good? afternoon, Kaguya] [M-Mokou, Mokou went out right?] She asked me while looking everywhere for her, from looking into the rice bin to under the futon, she was desperate trying to find Mokou. [Yes, she did. You just missed her.] [Awww?.] Kaguya pouted as she walked over to where we sat and sat down beside Akyu, kicking her legs up and down into the air. She really is an adorable girl that was unfortunately around a thousand years older than me. Dropping onto the floor, Kaguya looked really pitiful and I leaned over to her ear. [I think she went with the children to the lake..] Whispering and winking to her, I returned to penning down the notes that Akyu gave me as Kaguya leapt up and smiled brightly at me. [Okay~~ Thank you for having me, Miss Keine! A-and? you never told me that, kay????] Her smile was brilliant and I found myself marveling at her radiance and youthfulness. I guess when one loves something, one finds youth all over again. Some? somehow I felt a hint of jealousy from me towards Kaguya? [Keine?] [Yes?] I turned to Akyu, who smiled at me a little wistfully. [Is it lonely, Keine?] Her question surprised me and I laughed very softly. [? Yes, it is?] Kaguya?s persistent with Mokou will win her over? eventually. She has eternity to do that, as long as time flows? over time she will forget about me? but not Kaguya. She is the one that will be with her, live with her and? till the end die with her. She is? made for her and Mokou for Kaguya as well. [? but it?s fine? I have them.] I smiled and looked outside at the grave that still sat stoically after so many, many years. [? and him, so? it is fine? I am never alone? ever] Akyu looked at where I was looking at and she smiled as well. [Keine, and you have me.] [Yes, I have you too, Akyu.] Besides Mokou, Akyu was my other confidant? a person I knew from her previous generation and this generation as well. She knows my pain and despite the gap between the two generations, understood me for I had change very little in the years after his death? [? I feel like, I have done something for him? to make up for? what he did for me.] [Keine] Putting a hand on my shoulder, Akyu forced me to rest my head on her chest. Funny how soothing that was to me and I sniffed a little in her arms. [? I wish he can see this, Akyu? the day that? he said would come really did came? I-I?m so? happy now?] I sniffed softly while reminiscing the days we spent together, days that I would never forget, dead or alive. [? I wish I could have met him, Keine.] Akyu smiled wistfully at me too and joined me in looking outside, marveling at the new life we were leading, one that youkai and humans can get along? -- -- well, i was worried this might get kicked to second page..

Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin: Looking good so far! Although I'm sure some of the details here ... give away bits of the prequel. (Don't let that discourage you from writing the Prologue, though!)

WRATHIE_Beatrice: OH WHAT, this topic is AT THE SECOND PAGE?! BLASPHEMY! -- -- [Is there something wrong?] Looking at Reimu, who had suddenly stood up, I pushed away my bowl of rice and shook my head at Suika, who offered me more. [? I?m going out for a bit? Suika? will you please?] Not focusing on me, Reimu straightened her sleeves and hurried out, not bothering to even grab her amulets or her gohei, something which I found odd. [Hey, Suika? aren?t you going with her?] Looking back at Suika, who was eating as if nothing has happened, I questioned why she was taking it so calmly. Reimu leaving suddenly was not a good sign, her intuition is no laughing joke?. [and you know her, always trying to brave through everything by herself. Honestly, if she?s not Reimu she would be dead now da ze~] Pulling my socks back on, I muttered to Suika as she started clearing the bowls and plates, pulling one strand of hair out and sending a mini-Suika on her way. [She?s Reimu, Marisa. And Reimu is just Reimu?] Smiling happily, I have no qualms with letting the conversation drop right there as she was damn right, she is Reimu after all, if that even makes sense. She has always defied the odds, stood up to things people thought was impossible for her to do so and to come back from them, unscathed and with a smile on her face. Plus, she was always stubborn as heck, even more so than me if she believed that what she was doing carries an amount of risk. You could call her an overprotective mother and I and Suika her children even when Suika was probably tens and hundreds or even thousands times older than she is. [She sure has changed huh?da ze] [You said it, Marisa?] Absentmindedly telling me as she laid back and took a drink of sake, her favorite and usually banned liquor, Suika winked and remarked that I had said that every day since my reunion with her. [Learn something everyday~~ Right?] Giggling and patting her own stomach, Suika smiled cheerfully as tons of mini-Suikas run around the Shrine, clearing up the plates while I looked at the direction where Reimu headed off, towards the steps of the shrine and I nodded to myself. [Naturally da ze~ Everyday, it?s a new day for me? for her and for Gensokyo.] The sun seemed unnaturally bright ever since Reimu came back and I?m sure it wasn?t just an illusion of mine. It seemed as if Gensokyo itself was welcoming her back, her precious daughter and protector to her home land. [Who knows what she can do, what she can bring huh, Suika? It kinda makes me jealous?] And I am jealous, no matter what I do, no matter how I try, no matter what kind of gimmicks I pull? it can never top Reimu?s? But it?s fine, at least I know I am jealous? at the least I can accept the fact that I am jealous, rather than blindly directing rage at her. I still have human emotions at the early stage of being a youkai and it is great to get my priorities first as I might not get the chance to do so again. [Daijobu~] Grinning as Suika sat down beside me, Suika offered me a cup of sake which I accepted gratefully. As a house-rule, Reimu dislike liquor, unlike the time where she drank non-stop during the festival. Man those were the times, where we were young, innocent and rash. But those were fun times. Now it?s not just fun and games? definitely not fun and games anymore. Gensokyo?s peace and prosperity lay on our shoulders and I aren?t joshing around when I say that, if do believe Gensokyo will return to what it was before? where people attack youkai and youkai terrorizes the villagers. It?s survival of the fittest all over again? but wouldn?t it be nice if the people would get along just like how they are doing now? Hell, the people has much to learn from the youkai, the kappa especially so with their gadgets and the youkai too can learn some from the people, especially Keine, on what is civil behavior? We can learn so much from each other, so why did they not do so in the first place? [Marisa?] Calling me, I turned to Suika who was getting up and urging me to follow her. [Reimu?s gonna need help with this one? that?s what my intuition tells me.] Grinning, the little oni wiped the saliva off her lips and straightened her own miko outfit while the two little fairies, Ran and Chen I reckon just flew straight towards the entrance of the Shrine. [Intuition? You?re sounding more like Reimu; day after day Suika ze~] Winking, I whistled and Starfire zoomed below me, lifting me while following Suika and the two little fairies? lead. Right now is the happiest time of my life, jealous or not and being jealous is just being silly. Remember the Youkai with the powers of jealousy, Marisa? She?s her own undoing. Being jealous doesn?t solve problems? it?s the courage to face such jealousy, accept it and then resolve it which solves problems. Clenching my fist, I smiled happily while approaching my best friend, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, Reimu with a heavy heart. How long can I hold on this power? How long till I lose my will? how long till I destroy this land with the very power I gain to protect this place? and at that time? will you be there as well, smiling as always? defying the odds to take me down? Reimu or Reimu?. Will you be the one to slay me as well? Biting my lip, I pulled my hat a little bit lower than normal and shook my head at Suika, who was looking at me curiously. This is my problem? no one else should get caught into it? not even her? Besides, she?ll be the first to know when it comes? right? -- Walking to the front of the gate, I waited for the small figure I knew was coming to slowly make her way up. I just knew that she would come; it was my intuition that told me that? A meeting between us was inevitable and I would rather it be sooner? With her blonde hair being blown about by the wind, I found her terribly adorable, what with the red ribbon on her hair and her black and red dress. She was a perfect little doll and she did carry one with her as she ascended the steps slowly and carefully, muttering to her doll all that time. Her silver eyes scanned the area around her, searching for any danger and when her eyes met with mine, I bowed and greeted her. [Welcome to the Hakurei Shrine? I am the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, my name is Hakurei Reimu? how may I help you today?] Seeing her shocked expression, I took time and waited for her to react; she had something to say to me. Not many came to the Shrine with any reason except for? Oh alright? many came to the Shrine for no reason and those that do come for a reason means something out of the ordinary is going to happen. [Y-You are the Hakurei Shrine Maiden!!] She exclaimed as she looked up and down at me, she must find it odd to see me this way. For people like her, age is not a consideration? especially so if you are youkai. Youkai age, mature and change slowly unlike us humans who age, grow, mature and pass on relatively quickly? [Yes I am, how can I help you?] Taking careful care that that no one, youkai or not was near us, I led her up to the stairs to the torii gates where I waited for her to speak again. [I came to kill you!] Well that was not a surprise to me and I nodded my head in acknowledgement. I knew some youkai did not accept the world that I helped create, a world where humans and youkai coexists together. To them, youkai must be feared and only when they are feared can they gain power. By making humans and youkai coexists, they could not gain strength from the fear of the people and they fear such a loss would make them weaker and more vulnerable. A youkai is a being that draws it?s strength from the beliefs of the people, same way a god does through faith? if one believes in a youkai and reveres or fears it accordingly, it will gain strength and power. By itself, a natural youkai like a fairy will gain power through absorbing magical energies in the air? at least, that is what I gather from my teachings from my teachers. These particular youkai wanted my blood, believing that if I died, the belief will die with me? [Why would you want to kill me?] Sitting down in front of her and meeting her eye-to-eye, I waited patiently as she tried to come up with a good reason. [So I can be the strongest!! If I defeat the Hakurei Shrine Maiden!! People will pay attention to me!] Such innocence reminds me of Cirno and I patiently waited for her to finish, there must be a reason for her stubbornness, her unrelenting determination to come all the way here to kill me. [People will pay attention to me!! And they will know that dolls need to be liberated too!!] Raising her doll high up in the air above her, she giggled as the little doll moved just slightly, perhaps by her powers as they responded to her. She is a doll youkai with manipulation of poison, I had met her before? her name is Medicine, Medicine Melancholy the Sweet Poison of the Nameless mountain. A dangerous youkai in that she can poison anything and everything she touches with her powers of poison. Youkai and human alike, even normal plants and animals when exposed to her poison will die in a matter of hours. Even myself, for I am nothing but a normal human?. [The doll liberation movement will be revived with your death, Hakurei Reimu!!] Pointing a finger at me, Medicine smiled as she prepared to lunge at me when I stopped her by questioning her. [Won?t you feel lonely, Medicine?] [Eh?] Smiling and looking at her little doll, I asked her when playing with her dolls, does she feel lonely? [I-I don?t! Medi likes it with me!!] Hugging her doll tightly, it does seem so that she loved her doll and felt injustice at how the dolls were discarded after the human children grew sick of them. [All human should die for treating dolls this way!!] But I wonder who invented dolls in the first place? Wasn?t it us who seek companionship when we created the dolls? I felt sad when I think about it? we created such toys and gave then our affection and we threw them away when we tire of them? Why did we create them in the first place, showering them with affection only to throw them away? It really is a mystery to me and I sigh, both in unhappiness and in regret. Perhaps Medicine herself as a point, in the view points of the dolls? we are the evil ones. Fickle and easily distracted as we are, it is human nature I suppose? one that we cannot change but one that I hope I can try and rectify? [I agree?] Smiling at Medicine, I told her that she was right. Humans did indeed treat dolls badly, abandoning them and not showing love to them once they tire of them. [See, I am right!!] She seemed happy but confused too as she looked at me with her wide, silver colored eyes and asked. [If you agree with me, will you help me?] [? I?] I considered it for a moment, she had a mission to achieve and the underlying reason was right. But her means of accomplishing and solving the problem was wrong. She was planning mass murder, genocide of hundreds of people just for her cause. [? I can help? by dying?] I smiled at her as I knew what I could do by helping. A single death is better than multiple ones, is that not right? If her mission is justified enough? perhaps my death could indeed bring much needed attention to her cause. [Eh?] She seems reluctant suddenly? why is that? Was it not her goal to kill me by coming all the way here? Smiling at her, I held her hands and subsequently felt the pain from the poison that started seeping into my body. It was death entering my body and surprisingly, it did not hurt as much as I imagined. Aside from the initial pain, all I felt was numbness entering my arm. [isn?t that what you came for, Medicine?] I asked her again, slowly as I felt my body shut down merely seconds and a minute into touching her. Such powerful poison? let me be the only one to suffer the pain? let no one else succumb from this. --

Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin: Okay, that was the most adorable death threat ever. Also, this is like getting gameover'd by, like, Stage 2 Midboss, story-wise. :P

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